Knowledge Booklet

GCSE Music

Component 3

Set Works Name:

Class:

Edexcel GCSE Music (Year 10)

Component 2 - Composing (Free Choice)

You will learn to...

Create initial ideas and riffs.

Compose appropriate musical ideas for different genres.

Write idiomatically for specific instruments.

Develop and extend musical ideas.

Perform ideas that have been composed.

Big Questions

1. What are the key terms associated with SET WORK?

2. How do you place SET WORK in its social and historical context?

3. How are the musical elements used in SET WORK?

4. How does SET WORK compare with wider listening pieces?

5. How do you answer a GCSE listening question?

6. How do you answer a GCSE extended response question?

7. How do I improve my assessment answers?

Edexcel GCSE Music

Component 3 - Listening & Appraising

Component 3 – Appraising (40%)

You will study two set works from each of the Areas of Study to gain an understanding of the use of the musical elements, musical contexts and musical language of each piece

You will complete a written exam at the end of the course

Section A – listening questions and aural dictation on set works and an analysis of an unfamiliar piece of music

Q1-6 Listening Qs

Q7 Aural Dictation

Q8 Unfamiliar

Section B – (Q9)extended response question comparing a set work with an unfamiliar piece of music

Sample Assessment - Q1-6 Listening Questions

Sample Assessment - Q7 Musical Dictation

Sample Assessment - Q8 Unfamiliar Listening

Q: Evaluate how effectively Purcell and Vaughan Williams set text to music. In Linden Lea there are two verses which are almost exactly the same. However in the second verse rests are inserted at the ends of lines for example bar 27. These rests emphasise certain phrases e.g. ‘I be free’. ‘Music for a While’ does not have strict verses. The melody is quite simple in Linden Lea: it is syllabic and the melody is very repetitive as each verse has the same pattern which is AABA. It sounds like a folksong because it has pentatonic bits and I think British composers did this at the turn of the century. The melody stands out as the piano often plays it too for example in the opening. The melody in ‘Music for a While’ is much more florid, particularly the rhythm as Purcell uses lots of different note lengths. Although the melody starts with a leap of a 5th a lot of the melody writing is conjunct. This can be seen in bars 10‐12 where Purcell uses a melisma on the word ‘wondring’. This is an important feature of Baroque music. Two other Baroque features include the ornaments and suspensions on important words such as ‘pains’ in bar 12 and word‐painting for example where the melody falls on the ‘easd’. Vaughan Williams does not use any of these features which again makes it feel simple and like a folksong. I think another big difference is the fact that Linden Lea is either pentatonic or diatonic. Purcell’s melody is much more chromatic which reflects the meaning of this sad text. Not only is the melody chromatic but also the ground bass is chromatic. As this repeats all the way through it makes the whole song sound sad. It is also in A minor which contributes to the sad mood. Vaughan Williams uses dynamics to help establish a mood whereas Purcell, a Baroque composer, could not do that. I like where he uses the contrast between forte and piano to match the words ‘I be free’ and ‘my homeward road’. Examiner’s Commentary This is a detailed and perceptive answer. The student makes relevant points about both works and provides supporting musical examples throughout (AO3). The student demonstrates an awareness of the stylistic context of both works (AO3). There is extensive and sophisticated use of musical vocabulary including ‘conjunct’ and ‘pentatonic’ (AO3). The student presents a cohesive critical argument for both pieces for example the student addresses the structure, tonality, rhythm and texture of Linden Lea. The works are compared, contrasted and the student draws conclusions (AO4). Level 4 12/12

Sample Assessment - Q9 Extended Response

Further Understanding

James Stevenson’s YouTube revision playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?

list=PLSSqb164OqxhEzlcTX4dh7JIKB7MIC6Kh

Miss Hope’s test-yourself keywords video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=8FkLbdGew4Q&t=96s

Get Revising - Revision Resources for this Specification:

https://getrevising.co.uk/resources?q=&level_id%5B%

5D=gcse&level_id%5B%5D=standard_grade&subject_id%5B%

5D=music&board_id%5B%5D=edexcel&created%5B%5D=year